advertisement

---

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) governing board agreed last week to support Metrolink's procurement of up to 20 low-emission Tier 4-compliant locomotives by providing up to $34.7 million from the Carl Moyer Program.

Designed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 emission standard, the locomotives are expected to reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 80 percent compared with the Tier 0-compliant locomotives they will replace, Metrolink officials said in a prepared statement.

The AQMD funds will enable Metrolink to remove the Tier 0 locomotives over a three-year period. In addition, the agency will work with AQMD to develop a liquified natural gas locomotive, Metrolink officials said.

"Just as AQMD is committed to protecting the health of residents through air quality control, Metrolink is dedicated to lowering regional emissions by removing vehicles from our freeways and operating the most environmentally responsible technology," said Pat Morris, who chairs Metrolink and is mayor of San Bernardino, Calif.

Metrolink's board authorized the procurement of up to 20 Tier 4-compliant locomotives in December. The first three demonstration locomotives are slated for completion in fall 2015, agency officials said.